SAT VOCAB SEA

descendant (noun)

One who is descended lineally from another, such as a child or grandchild.

Descendent (adj)

Proceeding downward.

descent (noun)

Proceeding downward; the act of moving or going downward.

descry (verb)

To discern.

desert (verb)

To abandon without regard to the welfare of the abandoned.

desiccant (noun)

A remedy that dries up or absorbs moisture when applied externally.

designate (verb)

To select or appoint by authority.

desist (verb)

To cease from action.

desistance (noun)

Cessation.

despair (noun)

Utter hopelessness and despondency.

desperado (noun)

One without regard for law or life.

desperate (adjective)

Resorted to in a last extremity, or as if prompted by utter despair.

despicable (adjective)

Contemptible.

despite (preposition)

In spite of.

despond (verb)

To lose spirit, courage, or hope.

despondent (adjective)

Disheartened.

despot (noun)

An absolute and irresponsible monarch.

despotism (noun)

Severe, strict rule in which the judgment of the governed has little or no part.

destitute (adjective)

Poverty-stricken.

desultory (adjective)

Not connected with what precedes.

deter (verb)

To frighten away.

deteriorate (verb)

To grow worse.

determinate (adjective)

Definitely limited or fixed.

determination (noun)

The act of deciding.

deterrent (adjective)

Hindering from action through fear.

detest (verb)

To dislike or hate with intensity.

detract (verb)

To take away in a manner that lessens value or estimation.

detriment (noun)

Something that causes damage, depreciation, or loss.

detrude (verb)

To push down forcibly.

deviate (verb)

To take a different course.

devilry (noun)

Malicious mischief.

deviltry (noun)

Wanton and malicious mischief.

devious (adjective)

Out of the common or regular track.

devise (verb)

To invent.

devout (adjective)

Religious.

dexterity (noun)

Readiness, precision, efficiency, and ease in physical or mechanical work.

diabolic (adjective)

Characteristic of the devil.

diacritical (adjective)

Marking a difference.

diagnose (verb)

To distinguish a disease by its characteristic phenomena.

diagnosis (noun)

Determination of the distinctive nature of a disease.

dialect (noun)

Forms of speech peculiar to people of a particular district.

dialectician (noun)

A logician.

dialogue (noun)

A formal conversation involving two or more people.

diaphanous (adjective)

Transparent.

diatomic (adjective)

Containing only two atoms.

diatribe (noun)

A bitter or malicious criticism.

dictum (noun)

A positive utterance.

didactic (adjective)

Pertaining to teaching.

difference (noun)

Dissimilarity in any respect.

differentia (noun)

An essential characteristic by which a species differs from other species.

differential (adjective)

Distinctive.

differentiate (verb)

To acquire a distinct and separate character.

diffidence (noun)

Self-distrust.

diffident (adjective)

Affected or possessed with self-distrust.

diffusible (adjective)

Spreading rapidly through the system and acting quickly.

diffusion (noun)

Dispersion.

dignitary (noun)

One who holds high rank.

digraph (noun)

A union of two characters representing a single sound.

digress (verb)

To turn aside from the main subject to dwell on an incidental matter.

dilapidated (participle)

Fallen into decay or partial ruin.

dilate (verb)

To enlarge in all directions.

dilatory (adjective)

Tending to cause delay.

dilemma (noun)

A situation requiring a choice between opposing modes of conduct.

dilettante (noun)

A superficial amateur.

diligence (noun)

Careful and persevering effort to accomplish an undertaking.

dilute (verb)

To make more fluid or less concentrated by mixing with something.

diminution (noun)

Reduction.

dimly (adverb)

Obscurely.

diphthong (noun)

A sound produced by combining two vowels in one syllable or running their sounds together.

diplomacy (noun)

Tact, shrewdness, or skill in negotiations or social matters.

diplomat (noun)

A representative of one sovereign state at the capital or court of another.

diplomatic (adjective)

Characterized by special tact in negotiations.

diplomatist (noun)

One remarkable for tact and shrewd management.

disagree (verb)

To be opposite in opinion.

disallow (verb)

To withhold permission or sanction.

disappear (verb)

To cease to exist, actually or temporarily.

disappoint (verb)

To fail to fulfill an expectation, hope, wish, or desire.

disapprove (verb)

To regard with blame.

disarm (verb)

To deprive of weapons.

disarrange (verb)

To throw out of order.

disavow (verb)

To disclaim responsibility for.

disavowal (noun)

Denial.

disbeliever (noun)

One who refuses to believe.

disburden (verb)

To disencumber.

disburse (verb)

To pay out or expend money from a fund.

discard (verb)

To reject.

discernible (adjective)

Perceivable.

disciple (noun)

One who believes another's teaching or follows a doctrine.

disciplinary (adjective)

Having the nature of systematic training or subjection to authority.

discipline (verb)

To train to obedience.

disclaim (verb)

To disavow a claim, connection, or responsibility.

discolor (verb)

To stain.

discomfit (verb)

To put to confusion.

discomfort (noun)

The state of being positively uncomfortable.

disconnect (verb)

To undo or dissolve a connection or association.

disconsolate (adjective)

Grief-stricken.

discontinuance (noun)

Interruption or intermission.

discord (noun)

Absence of harmoniousness.

discountenance (verb)

To look upon with disfavor.

discover (verb)

To get first sight or knowledge of something previously unknown or unperceived.